Algea scrubber or refugium

[Dfrashid]

Algea scrubber or Refugium? I'm just curious what one you think is better and why? like what are the pro's and con's for and algea scrubber or refugium?

 

[Reef Psychology]

There purposes overlap, but they serve different overall needs. The scrubber reduces nutrients at a quick rate and can help stabilize pH. The refugium is a refuge where you can grow macro algae, grow pods, house equipment, increase water volume and store more media. A refugium is almost always superior.

 

[WallyTime7]

There purposes overlap, but they serve different overall needs. The scrubber reduces nutrients at a quick rate and can help stabilize pH. The refugium is a refuge where you can grow macro algae, grow pods, house equipment, increase water volume and store more media. A refugium is almost always superior.

I wouldn't say the refugium isn't considered for removing nutrients, because if you don't trim up your algae (like your scrubber) it can continue to drop nutrients just as much.
Yes on the pods, bonus there.
However, they're terribly messy and continues to send broken algae and mess downstream into other filters/skimmers/etc. I have a refuge that's working almost too amazing and just not worth the mess.

 

[theMeat]

Scrubber pros
-can do more nutrient export in smaller space.
-can help with ph through aeration
-easy to adjust/control depending on your nutrient export needs

Scrubber cons
-doesn’t add much to system total water volume
-not a habitat for pods or the likes
-have to clean every few weeks instead of many months with fuge.
They can both help with nighttime ph drop by running light at night opposite display tank light.

 

[pandaparties]

Go for both! I have a fuge where I keep rock and other things for pods and extra water volume, and I have float on top scrubbers from Santa Monica that work amazing at nutrient export. I find macros in fuges just break apart and get all over the DT, not to mention finding the right flow and all that is a pain.